[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25521]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 14, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

 

Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, P.L. 95-541

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, P.L. 95-541.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish 
notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated 
under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit 
applications received.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to these permit applications by November 19, 
1994. Permit applications may be inspected by interested parties at the 
Permit Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nadene G. Kennedy at the above address or (703) 306-1031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-541), has 
developed regulations that implement the ``Agreed Measures for the 
Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora'' for all United States 
citizens. The Agreed Measures, developed by the Antarctic Treaty 
Consultative Parties, recommended establishment of a permit system for 
various activities in Antarctica and designation of certain animals and 
certain geographic areas requiring special protection. The regulations 
establish such a permit system to designate Specially Protected Areas 
and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
    The applications received are as follows:
    1. Applicant--John L. Bengtson, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., 
Seattle, Washington 98115.
    Permit Application No. 95-023.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Taking; Enter Sites of Special Scientific Interest; and, Import 
Into and Export From the United States.
    Pinniped research to be conducted consists of ship-supported 
studies in the circumpolar pack ice zone and land-based studies at 
selected sites around the continent, particularly in the region of the 
Antarctic Peninsula. A primary objective is to study the feeding 
ecology, reproduction, and population dynamics of Antarctic seals and 
to examine their role in the marine ecosystem.
    When logistically possible, time-depth recorders, radio 
transmitters, and satellite-linked electronics will be deployed on 
seals of various species to monitor their deeding and diving behavior. 
Instruments will be fastened to the pelage on the backs of individuals 
using cyanoacrylic glue and/or quick-setting epoxy, as has been 
successfully used in previous seasons. Recorders will be retrieved from 
seals up to 90 days after initial deployment. Those packages not 
recovered will be shed from the seals' backs at their next molt. Shore-
based studies and surveys will investigate the numbers, behavior, and 
activity patterns of Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. 
To facilitate the census work, temporary paint or bleach marks may be 
applied to seals hauled out in the survey area. Selected individuals 
may be tagged to assist identification and to monitor migrations. 
Aerial surveys will be flown to assess the abundance and distribution 
of pinnipeds in various habitats. In general, surveys will be flown 
over altitudes of 500 feet or greater to minimize potential 
disturbance. However, to allow greater flexibility in designing and 
conducting surveys, flights may be made at lower altitudes (but not 
less than 200 feet) when called for by conditions of survey design or 
human safety. Handling of seals while restrained will include marking, 
weighing, measuring, taking tissue samples (e.g., blubber, skin, blood, 
hair).
    Permission is requested to enter Cape Shirreff (SSSI #32) and Byers 
Peninsula (SSSI #6) on Livingston Island to study pinnipeds and 
seabirds. A comprehensive census of these populations was conducted 
during the 1986-87 austral summer, and repeat censuses are being 
planned for future seasons. In addition, studies of seabirds and 
pinnipeds, as described above, may be undertaken at Cape Shirreff as 
part of the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP). The applicant 
wishes to conduct directed research and monitoring of fur seals and 
seabirds at Cape Shirreff in accordance with CEMP recommendations. 
There is a possibility of recently-established fur seal colonies within 
the vicinity of the Byers Peninsula, and periodic censuses of the area 
would be desirable. At both sites, care will be taken to minimize 
disturbance to terrestrial habitats and lifeforms. All activities 
conducted would comply with the approved SSSI management plans in force 
for each area.
    To optimize the use of specimen material previously collected from 
Antarctic pennipeds, permission is requested to allow exchange of 
specimen material among researchers in various nations. Specifically, 
the applicant wishes to: (1) import Antarctic pinniped specimen 
material into the U.S., and (2) export Antarctic pinniped specimen 
material out of the U.S. to investigators collaborating in other 
countries. Authorization is requested to import and export previously 
collected specimen material from all six species of Antarctic pennipeds 
between the U.S. and other nations who have acceded to the Antarctic 
Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals. 
Accession to these treaties will ensure that specimens collected by 
foreign scientists will have been collected in compliance with the 
provisions of these two conventions.

Location

    Circumpolar pack ice areas and sites ashore, Antarctic Peninsula 
region, South Shetland Islands vicinity; and Sites of Special 
Scientific Interest--Cape Shirreff (SSSI #32) and Byers Peninsula (SSSI 
#6), Livingston Island. Access will be by ship, boat, or helicopter 
(overflights of rookeries will be avoided).

Dates

    January 1, 1995-December 31, 1999.
    2. Applicant--Thomas A. Day and James B. McGraw, Department of 
Biology, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6057, Morgantown, West 
Virginia 26506-6057.
    Permit Application No. 95-024.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Take; Enter Site of Special Scientific Interest; and Import Into 
the United States.
    This research project will attempt to determine whether UV-B, 
particularly UV-B associated with ozone hole events, affects 
photosynthesis, growth, and reproductive performance of Antarctic 
vascular plants. they will assess the relative magnitude of this 
limitation by using experimental field treatments to compare UV-B to 
other potential limitations such as UV-A (ultraviolet-A radiation; 320-
400nm), water stress, and nutrient stress. The applicant proposes enter 
Biscoe Point, Anvers Island (SSSI #20) to collect up to 50 green 
tillers or shoots with root system of Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia 
antarctica), and up to 20 seeds (filled seeds if found) of Antarctic 
pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis). These samples will be transported to 
West Virginia University where they will be propagated and grown in 
growth cambers and a greenhouse. These plants will be exposed to 
various UV treatments and underlying physiological mechanisms 
responsible for their response to UV will be identified. Equipment, 
techniques, and facilities necessary for these investigations are not 
available at Palmer Station.
    Access to the site will be by zodiac from the ship. Plant material 
will be collected by hand and/or trowel.

Location

    Biscoe Point, Anvers Island--Sites of Special Scientific Interest 
#20.

Dates

    February 10-17, 1995.
    3. Applicant--Donal T. Manahan, Department of Biological Sciences, 
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089.
    Permit Application No. 95-025.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Export from the United States and Introduce Non-indigenous Species 
into Antarctica. The applicant and four faculty members will offer a 
four-week course at the McMurdo Station Crary Science and Engineering 
Center for 16 students from major international research institutions. 
This second year of the course will emphasize four themes: 1) evolution 
of structure-function in cold-adapted proteins and biology of 
antifreeze strategies in antarctic fishes, 2) molecular evolution and 
UV-photobiology of antarctic algae, 3) comparative studies of protein 
and membrane adaptations to cold in marine invertebrates and fish, and 
4) physiology and biochemistry of larval development of antarctic 
invertebrates. As part of the course, the applicant will need to 
culture species of unicellular algae in aseptic conditions. For this 
purpose, it is requested to export from the U.S. approximately 10ml of 
algae culture per species originally isolated in Antarctica. These 
cultures will be used for investigations of the effects of UV on the 
biology of algae (DNA damage, etc.) The algae species now in culture in 
the U.S., that were originally isolated in Antarctica, and to be 
exported from the U.S. are:

Acrochaetium sp.
Acrosiphonia sp.
Bangia sp.
Chaeoceros flexuosum
Desmarestia antarctica
Halochorococcum sp.
Halococcus sp.
Nitzchia curta
Phaeocystis sp.
Phyllophora antarctica
Porosira glacialis
Porphyra cf. plocamienstris
Rhodochorton purpureum
Thallassiosira antarctica
Urospora sp.

    In addition, the applicant proposes to introduce algal species that 
are not of Antarctic origin for use as food for antarctic larval forms 
(sea urchins) that will be reared at McMurdo Station during the period 
of the course study. The non-indigenous algal species to be introduced 
into Antarctica are:

Dunaliella teriolecta
Isochrysis galbana
Skeletonema costatum
Thalassiosira pseudonana
Rhodomonas sp.

    After use, all algae and seawater containing algae will be 
autoclaved to kill the algal cells.

Location

    McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Dates

    December 18, 1994-February 7, 1995.
    4. Applicant--Ronald G. Koger, Project Director, Antarctic Support 
Associates, 61 Inverness Drive East, Suite 300, Englewood, Colorado 
80112.
    Permit Application No. 95-026.

Activities for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking.
    The applicant proposes to conduct operations at Cape Hallett in an 
effort to cleanup remnants of past operations. The location of the 
proposed work lies within a penguin rookery with a population of 
approximately 80,000 Adelie penguins. The proposed work involves 
delivering drums and overpacks to the site; transferring fuel, oil, 
solvent and antifreeze to the drums; and returning the materials to 
McMurdo Station. The cleanup will be accomplished in stages over a 
period of several years. Each phase has the potential of disturbing the 
local penguin population. The work is justified by the fact that the 
cleanup operation is an effort to eliminate a potentially hazardous 
situation which poses a threat to the health and well being of the 
penguin population should the old containers leak their contents due to 
corrosion. Disturbances would come from noise associated with the 
activity of personnel on site, use of equipment, and transportation to 
and from the site. Every effort will be taken to schedule activities at 
times when the penguins are least susceptible to these disturbances, 
for example, during times when the birds are not mating, breeding, or 
nesting.

Location

    Seabee Hook, Cape Hallet, Victoria Land, Antarctica.

Dates

    November 1, 1994-March 1, 1995.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-25521 Filed 10-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M